On my plane ride back, I was thinking about the whole The Dell Women Entrepreneur Network experience and the one that comes to mind that the trip was non stop.  Faith Brewett and the entire Dell, Intel and Bloomberg LINK team did a fabulous job creating a wonderful intimate event where can meet all of these international movers and shakers and have an unforgettable experience. The women at the conference are some of the top women entrepreneurs in the world such as Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY; Kay Koplovitz, Founder and former CEO of USA Networks (New York); Faith Brewitt, organizer of the conference and Director of Global CSMB Communications Dell (Shanghai) and Wendy Simpson, Chairman of Westray Engineering just to name a few in the photo below. The learnings are incredible, the stories inspiring and the memories forever.  

For example, Sung-Joo Kim, daughter of one of the weathiest families in China, shared her experience of growing up with pretty much everything she was going to need in life and all of the privileges of the rich not ever having to work. However she was touched by a divine calling if you will and really wanted to make something of herself and in pursuing her own path, her family disowned her when instead of getting married- she went to school to get a degree and started a business. She worked numerous jobs to learn her craft and meet people and was able to secure a mentor from one of the best minds in her industry. After 4 years of not talking to her dad, she went back to him and asked for a loan - NOT a gift and her father ended up giving her a $300,000 loan, which she paid back and is now one of China’s most successful businesswomen- running the SungJoo Group and MCM Holdings.

What really struck me about this story is that many times when you have nothing to lose, the risk that you take is much less and we the fear is not as great (though it may not feel that way) versus when you have everything. Sung-Joo did in fact lose everything, even her family, but it was more important to 'take her own path', borrowing a theme from Dell, and pursue what is really important to her. It truly inspires me as I am on my path to help 'Green the World' through technology and become one of the alternative energy industy's leading ladies (Green Girl!!! :-). Go Sung-Joo Kim!!

iV and Sung-Joo Kim in her Shanghai storeAt dinner with, from Left- Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY; Kay Koplovitz, Founder and former CEO of USA Networks (New York); Faith Brewitt, organizer of the conference and Director of Global CSMB Communications Dell (Shanghai); Sung-Joo Kim Chairperson and CEO of the SungJoo Group (Switzerland) and Wendy Simpson, Chairman of Westray Engineering (Australia)

Just arrived here today to speak at the Dell, Intel, Bloomberg Conference for women - The Dell Women Entrepreneur Network in Shanghai, China June 20-22 as part of Dell's "Take Your Own Path" initiatives.  Dynamic, world leaders and female executives from all over the globe.  We kicked off the arrival evening with a trip to the world-famous “M” on the Bund bar and restaurant in Shaghai.  There Founder and CEO, Michelle Garnaut was quite the host.  Her own journey starting with her first restaurant in Hong Kong is quite extraordinary (short version?- she simply has a knack for spotting trends, i.e. “the hotspots” before anyone else).  Also got to hang with my amazing sister in the Billionaire Girls Club who is also here to speak, Founder of Sweetriot Chocolates, Sarah Endline.  We both continue to have a laugh that we can’t seem to make phone calls and meetings together in the States and it takes China to bring us together in person!

One of the organizers of the conference is Stephanie Goodell.  Incredible talent and if tonight is any idea of what we can expect over the next few days- it will be extraordinary.  My goal?  To share, spread and grow interest in the green energy economy and talk about the work we at Clean Air Conversions are doing to clean up the world’s ports.  Shaghai has the world’s third largest port- and could not be a better location for discussing green tech with all its new, environmentally sound developments and focus of the World Expo.

More to come...I LOVE the energy, creativity and ideas of all these femme founders - what a great idea to share knowledge and make the world a little closer!! 

The view from the “M” balcony of ShanghaiWith Sarah E. and Stephanie Goodell at the “M”With Sarah Endline of Sweetriot and Michelle Garnaut, Founder and CEO of the “M” RestaurantsArriving at “M on the Bund”